U.S. patent application number 16/960247 was filed with the patent office on 2021-03-04 for method for bonding a plurality of radio connections in a wireless network.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAGEMCOM BROADBAND SAS. The applicant listed for this patent is SAGEMCOM BROADBAND SAS. Invention is credited to Clement PARISOT, Antonie ROCQUELAY.
Application Number | 20210068109 16/960247 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 62455634 |
Filed Date | 2021-03-04 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20210068109 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ROCQUELAY; Antonie ; et
al. |
March 4, 2021 |
METHOD FOR BONDING A PLURALITY OF RADIO CONNECTIONS IN A WIRELESS
NETWORK
Abstract
The invention relates particularly to a method for a wireless
communication network, the method allowing the bonding of a
plurality of radio connections between a client electronic device
and a master electronic device, the method having the steps of
receiving, coming from a client electronic device, a message having
a request to establish a new connection, the message having an
identifier of the client electronic device and authentication
information, determining whether a second connection is already
established between the master electronic device and the client
electronic device, and, if such is the case, then sending, via the
connection already established, a message having a request to
verify the establishment request received, the message having the
authentication information received, receiving a message having
information validating the request to establish the new connection,
and establishing the new connection between the client electronic
device and the master electronic device.
Inventors: |
ROCQUELAY; Antonie; (Rueil
Malmaison, FR) ; PARISOT; Clement; (Rueil Malmaison,
FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SAGEMCOM BROADBAND SAS |
Rueil Malmaison |
|
FR |
|
|
Assignee: |
SAGEMCOM BROADBAND SAS
Rueil Malmaison
FR
|
Family ID: |
62455634 |
Appl. No.: |
16/960247 |
Filed: |
January 29, 2019 |
PCT Filed: |
January 29, 2019 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2019/052068 |
371 Date: |
July 6, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 72/0453 20130101;
H04W 88/06 20130101; H04W 12/06 20130101; H04W 84/12 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04W 72/04 20060101
H04W072/04; H04W 12/06 20060101 H04W012/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 31, 2018 |
FR |
1850798 |
Claims
1. A method, for a wireless communication network using a plurality
of frequency bands and comprising at least one so-called client
electronic device, each client electronic device comprising at
least two radio modules, each radio module being adapted to use a
frequency band in the plurality of frequency bands, and a so-called
master electronic device, the master electronic device comprising
at least two radio modules, each radio module being adapted to use
a frequency band in the plurality of frequency bands, the method
allowing the establishment of a plurality of connections between a
client electronic device and the master electronic device, the
method being executed by the master electronic device and
comprising the steps of: receiving, via a first radio module of the
master electronic device and coming from a first radio module of a
client electronic device, a message comprising a request to
establish a first connection between the master electronic device
and the client electronic device, the message comprising an
identifier associated with the client electronic device and a first
item of authentication information associated with the request to
establish a connection, determining whether a second connection is
already established between a second radio module of the master
electronic device and a second radio module of the client
electronic device corresponding to the identifier received, and, if
such is the case, then: sending, via the second radio module of the
master electronic device and intended for the second radio module
of the client electronic device, a message comprising a request to
verify the request to establish the first connection received, the
message comprising the first item of authentication information
received, receiving, via the second radio module of the master
electronic device and coming from the second radio module of the
client electronic device, a message comprising information
validating the request to establish the first connection, and
establishing the first connection between the first radio module of
the client electronic device and the first radio module of the
master electronic device.
2. The method according to claim 1, the message comprising the
validation information also comprising a second item of
authentication information, the master electronic device sending a
message to the client electronic device in order to establish the
first connection, this message comprising the second item of
authentication information.
3. The method according to claim 1, the wireless communication
network being in accordance with an IEEE 802.11 standard, each
radio module of the master electronic device sending a signalling
message comprising at least one first and one second wireless
network identifier, the second wireless network identifier being
determined according to the first network identifier, wherein each
client electronic device wishing to establish a plurality of
connections with the master electronic device establishes each
connection using the second network identifier.
4. The method according to claim 1, the signalling message being: a
beacon frame sent periodically, or a message sent in return after
reception of a wireless-network detection message sent by a client
electronic device.
5. The method according to claim 1, the method comprising a
subsequent step of bonding the first radio connection with
previously established connections, the bonding step comprising the
steps of: updating a so-called bonding table, the table comprising,
for each bonding, an associated identifier, the identifier
associated with the client electronic device and a list of
associated connections, and when a message is intended for the
client electronic device, then: seeking, in the bonding table, the
list of associated connections, determining a connection for
sending the message, sending the message via the connection
determined.
6. A method, for a wireless communication network using a plurality
of frequency bands and comprising at least one so-called client
electronic device, each client electronic device comprising at
least two radio modules, each radio module being adapted to use a
frequency band in the plurality of frequency bands, and a so-called
master electronic device, the master electronic device comprising
at least two radio modules, each radio module being adapted to use
a frequency band in the plurality of frequency bands, the method
allowing the establishment of a plurality of connections between a
client electronic device and the master electronic device, the
method being executed by the client electronic device, a first
connection being established between a first radio module of the
client electronic device and a first radio module of the master
electronic device, the method comprising the steps of: sending, via
a second radio module of the client electronic device and to a
second radio module of the master electronic device, a message
comprising a request to establish a second connection, the message
comprising an identifier associated with the client electronic
device and a first item of authentication information associated
with the connection establishment request, receiving, via the first
radio module of the client electronic device and coming from the
first radio module of the master electronic device, a message
comprising a request to verify a request to establish a connection,
the message comprising a second item of authentication information,
determining whether the first item of authentication information is
equal to the second item of authentication information and, if such
is the case, sending, via the first radio module of the client
electronic device and intended for the first radio module of the
master electronic device, a message comprising information
validating the request to establish the second connection, and
establishing the second connection between the second radio module
of the client electronic device and the second radio module of the
master electronic device.
7. The method according to claim 6, the message comprising
information validating the request to establish the second
connection comprising in addition a second item of authentication
information, the second connection between the second radio module
of the client electronic device and the second radio module of the
master electronic device being established only if the client
electronic device receives a message requesting establishment of a
connection of the master electronic device comprising the second
item of authentication information.
8. The method according to claim 5, the wireless communication
network being in accordance with an IEEE 802.11 standard, each
radio module of the master electronic device sending a signalling
message comprising at least one first and one second wireless
network identifier, the second wireless network identifier being
determined according to the first network identifier, wherein each
client electronic device wishing to establish a plurality of
connections with the master electronic device establishes each
connection using the second network identifier.
9. A master electronic device, the master electronic device being
adapted for being connected to a wireless communication network
using a plurality of frequency bands and comprising at least one
so-called client electronic device, each client electronic device
comprising at least two radio modules, each radio module being
adapted to use a frequency band in the plurality of frequency
bands, the master electronic device comprising at least two radio
modules, each radio module being adapted for using a frequency band
in the plurality of frequency bands, the master electronic device
being adapted for: receiving, via a first radio module of the
master electronic device and coming from a first radio module of a
client electronic device, a message comprising a request to
establish a first connection between the master electronic device
and the client electronic device, the message comprising an
identifier associated with the client electronic device and a first
item of authentication information associated with the request to
establish a connection, determining whether a second connection is
already established between a second radio module of the master
electronic device and a second radio module of the client
electronic device corresponding to the identifier received, and, if
such is the case, then: sending, via the second radio module of the
master electronic device and intended for the second radio module
of the client electronic device, a message comprising a request to
verify the request to establish the first connection received, the
message comprising the first item of authentication information
received, receiving, via the second radio module of the master
electronic device and coming from the second radio module of the
client electronic device, a message comprising information
validating the request to establish the first connection, and
establishing the first connection between the first radio module of
the client electronic device and the first radio module of the
master electronic device.
10. A client electronic device, the client electronic device being
adapted to be connected to a wireless communication network using a
plurality of frequency bands and comprising a so-called master
electronic device, each master electronic device comprising at
least two radio modules, each radio module being adapted to use a
frequency band in the plurality of frequency bands, the client
electronic device comprising at least two radio modules, each radio
module being adapted to use a frequency band in the plurality of
frequency bands, the client electronic device being adapted, when a
first connection is established between a first radio module of the
client electronic device and a first radio module of the master
electronic device, to: send, via a second radio module of the
client electronic device and to a second radio module of the master
electronic device, a message comprising a request to establish a
second connection, the message comprising an identifier associated
with the client electronic device and a first item of
authentication information associated with the connection
establishment request, receive, via the first radio module of the
client electronic device and coming from the first radio module of
the master electronic device, a message comprising a request for
verification of a request to establish a connection, the message
comprising a second item of authentication information, determine
whether the first item of authentication information is equal to
the second item of authentication information and, if such is the
case, send, via the first radio module of the client electronic
device and intended for the first radio module of the master
electronic device, a message comprising information validating the
request to establish the second connection, and establish the
second connection between the second radio module of the client
electronic device and the second radio module of the master
electronic device.
11. (canceled)
12. A non-transitory storage medium storing a computer comprising
instructions for implementing, by a processor of a master
electronic device of a wireless communication network using a
plurality of frequency bands, the master electronic device
comprising at least two radio modules, each radio module being
adapted to use a frequency band in the plurality of frequency
bands, a method allowing the establishment of a plurality of
connections between a so-called client electronic device and the
master electronic device according to claim 1, when the computer
program is executed by the processor.
13. (canceled)
14. A non-transitory storage medium storing a computer program
comprising instructions for implementing, by a processor of a
client electronic device of a wireless communication network using
a plurality of frequency bands, the client electronic device
comprising at least two radio modules, each radio module being
adapted to use a frequency band in the plurality of frequency
bands, a method allowing the establishment of a plurality of
connections between a so-called master electronic device and the
client electronic device according to claim 6, when the computer
program is executed by the processor.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of wireless
communication networks. The invention relates more particularly to
the field of wireless communication networks in accordance with one
of the IEEE 802.11 standards (Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers), that is to say the wireless communication
networks commonly called Wi-Fi networks.
[0002] A wireless communication network (hereinafter "network") in
accordance with one of the IEEE 802.11 standards typically
comprises a so-called master electronic device, common referred to
as an access point or AP, and a plurality of so-called client
electronic devices able to establish wireless connections with the
access point. The master electronic device, or access point, is
typically a "box" supplied by an internet operator, that is to say
a home gateway or residential gateway. Client electronic devices
are typically computers, tablets or so-called smartphones. It is
thus commonly said that the client electronic devices are connected
or associated "in Wi-Fi" with the access point. The terms "Wi-Fi
connection" or "Wi-Fi association" will be used hereinafter
equivalently.
[0003] FIG. 1 illustrates highly schematically such a network 100.
The network 100 comprises an access point AP 101 and two client
electronic devices D1 102 and D2 103. According to the version of
the IEEE 802.11 standard used by the various electronic devices in
the network 100, a plurality of frequency bands can be used to
establish radio connections between the client electronic devices
and the access point AP 101. Thus the access point AP 101 may
comprise one or more radio modules, each radio module being adapted
for using a frequency band in the plurality of frequency bands
allowing the establishment of a connection with a client electronic
device. The client electronic device D1 102 or D2 103 comprises, to
allow the establishment of a radio connection with the access point
AP 101, a radio module for using one of the frequency bands used by
one of the radio modules of the access point. Establishing a radio
connection is therefore possible between the radio module of the
client electronic device and the radio module of the access point
using one and the same frequency band. A radio module may possibly
use a plurality of frequency bands, but not simultaneously. The
radio module must then switch between a plurality of modes, each
mode corresponding to the use of one of the frequency bands that
can be used by the radio module. A "dual-band/single radio"
electronic device is then for example spoken of, for a client
electronic device the radio module of which can use two frequency
bands. Thus, if an access point AP 101 conventionally comprises a
plurality of radio modules allowing the simultaneous establishment
of radio connections with client electronic devices on a plurality
of frequency bands, a client electronic device generally comprises
only one radio module, possibly able to use one or more frequency
bands. Methods then exist allowing a selection of the optimal
frequency band for establishing a radio connection between the
client electronic device and the access point.
[0004] Thus the management of wireless communication networks
wherein an access point comprises a plurality of radio modules and
each client electronic device one radio module, possibly able to
use one or other of the frequency bands, is known. However, lately
client electronic devices comprising two or more radio modules have
appeared on the market. Where an access point also comprises at
least two radio modules, these new client electronic devices then
allow the establishment of more than one radio connection
simultaneously between said client electronic device and the access
point. When a radio connection is established with an access point,
a client electronic device, or more precisely a radio module of
said electronic client device, identifies itself with the access
point by means of an address that is said to be physical, since it
is associated with the radio module of the client electronic
device. This physical address is typically an MAC (Media Access
Control) address. Thus, from the point of view of the access point,
each radio connection established by any one client electronic
device to the access point is considered to be an independent radio
connection, identified by a different physical address. In other
words, the access point considers each radio connection thus
established to be so many radio connections to an independent
client electronic device, rather than a plurality of radio
connections to one and the same client electronic device.
[0005] It is therefore necessary to propose a method for overcoming
these drawbacks
[0006] The invention relates to a method, for a wireless
communication network using a plurality of frequency bands and
comprising at least one so-called client electronic device, each
client electronic device comprising at least two radio modules,
each radio module being adapted to use a frequency band in the
plurality of frequency bands, and a so-called master electronic
device, the master electronic device comprising at least two radio
modules, each radio module being adapted to use a frequency band in
the plurality of frequency bands, the method allowing the
establishment of a plurality of connections between a client
electronic device and the master electronic device, the method
being executed by the master electronic device and comprising the
steps of: [0007] receiving, via a first radio module of the master
electronic device and coming from a first radio module of a client
electronic device, a message comprising a request to establish a
first connection between the master electronic device and the
client electronic device, the message comprising an identifier
associated with the client electronic device and a first item of
authentication information associated with the request to establish
a connection, [0008] determining whether a second connection is
already established between a second radio module of the master
electronic device and a second radio module of the client
electronic device corresponding to the identifier received, and, if
such is the case, then: [0009] sending, via the second radio module
of the master electronic device and intended for the second radio
module of the client electronic device, a message comprising a
request to verify the request to establish the first connection
received, the message comprising the first item of authentication
information received, [0010] receiving, via the second radio module
of the master electronic device and coming from the second radio
module of the client electronic device, a message comprising
information validating the request to establish the first
connection, and [0011] establishing the first connection between
the first radio module of the client electronic device and the
first radio module of the master electronic device.
[0012] According to a complementary embodiment of the invention,
the message comprising the validation information also comprises a
second item of authentication information, the master electronic
device sending a message to the client electronic device in order
to establish the first connection, this message comprising the
second item of authentication information.
[0013] According to a complementary embodiment of the invention,
the wireless communication network being in accordance with an IEEE
802.11 standard, each radio module of the master electronic device
sending a signalling message comprising at least one first and one
second wireless network identifier, the second wireless network
identifier being determined according to the first network
identifier, the method is characterised in that each client
electronic device wishing to establish a plurality of connections
with the master electronic device establishes each connection using
the second network identifier.
[0014] According to a complementary embodiment of the invention,
the signalling message is: [0015] a beacon frame sent periodically,
or [0016] a message sent in return after reception of a
wireless-network detection message sent by a client electronic
device.
[0017] According to a complementary embodiment of the invention,
the method comprises a subsequent step of bonding the first radio
connection with previously established connections, the bonding
step comprising the steps of: [0018] updating a so-called bonding
table, the table comprising, for each bonding, an associated
identifier, the identifier associated with the client electronic
device and a list of associated connections, and [0019] when a
message is intended for the client electronic device, then: [0020]
seeking, in the bonding table, the list of associated connections,
[0021] determining a connection for sending the message, [0022]
sending the message via the connection determined.
[0023] The invention also relates to a method, for a wireless
communication network using a plurality of frequency bands and
comprising at least one so-called client electronic device, each
client electronic device comprising at least two radio modules,
each radio module being adapted to use a frequency band in the
plurality of frequency bands, and a so-called master electronic
device, the master electronic device comprising at least two radio
modules, each radio module being adapted to use a frequency band in
the plurality of frequency bands, the method allowing the
establishment of a plurality of connections between a client
electronic device and the master electronic device, the method
being executed by the client electronic device, a first connection
being established between a first radio module of the client
electronic device and a first radio module of the master electronic
device, the method comprising the steps of: [0024] sending, via a
second radio module of the client electronic device and to a second
radio module of the master electronic device, a message comprising
a request to establish a second connection, the message comprising
an identifier associated with the client electronic device and a
first item of authentication information associated with the
connection establishment request, [0025] receiving, via the first
radio module of the client electronic device and coming from the
first radio module of the master electronic device, a message
comprising a request to verify a request to establish a connection,
the message comprising a second item of authentication information,
[0026] determining whether the first item of authentication
information is equal to the second item of authentication
information and, if such is the case, [0027] sending, via the first
radio module of the client electronic device and intended for the
first radio module of the master electronic device, a message
comprising information validating the request to establish the
second connection, and [0028] establishing the second connection
between the second radio module of the client electronic device and
the second radio module of the master electronic device.
[0029] According to a complementary embodiment of the invention,
the message comprising information validating the request to
establish the second connection comprising in addition a second
item of authentication information, the second connection between
the second radio module of the client electronic device and the
second radio module of the master electronic device is established
only if the client electronic device receives a message requesting
establishment of a connection of the master electronic device
comprising the second item of authentication information.
[0030] According to a complementary embodiment of the invention,
the wireless communication network being in accordance with an IEEE
802.11 standard, each radio module of the master electronic device
sending a signalling message comprising at least one first and one
second wireless network identifier, the second wireless network
identifier being determined according to the first network
identifier, the method is characterised in that each client
electronic device wishing to establish a plurality of connections
with the master electronic device establishes each connection using
the second network identifier.
[0031] The invention also relates to a so-called master electronic
device, the master electronic device being adapted for being
connected to a wireless communication network using a plurality of
frequency bands and comprising at least one so-called client
electronic device, each client electronic device comprising at
least two radio modules, each radio module being adapted to use a
frequency band in the plurality of frequency bands, the master
electronic device comprising at least two radio modules, each radio
module being adapted for using a frequency band in the plurality of
frequency bands, the master electronic device being adapted for:
[0032] receiving, via a first radio module of the master electronic
device and coming from a first radio module of a client electronic
device, a message comprising a request to establish a first
connection between the master electronic device and the client
electronic device, the message comprising an identifier associated
with the client electronic device and a first item of
authentication information associated with the request to establish
a connection, [0033] determining whether a second connection is
already established between a second radio module of the master
electronic device and a second radio module of the client
electronic device corresponding to the identifier received, and, if
such is the case, then: [0034] sending, via the second radio module
of the master electronic device and intended for the second radio
module of the client electronic device, a message comprising a
request to verify the request to establish the first connection
received, the message comprising the first item of authentication
information received, [0035] receiving, via the second radio module
of the master electronic device and coming from the second radio
module of the client electronic device, a message comprising
information validating the request to establish the first
connection, and [0036] establishing the first connection between
the first radio module of the client electronic device and the
first radio module of the master electronic device.
[0037] The invention also relates to a so-called client electronic
device, the client electronic device being adapted to be connected
to a wireless communication network using a plurality of frequency
bands and comprising a so-called master electronic device, each
master electronic device comprising at least two radio modules,
each radio module being adapted to use a frequency band in the
plurality of frequency bands, the client electronic device
comprising at least two radio modules, each radio module being
adapted to use a frequency band in the plurality of frequency
bands, the client electronic device being adapted, when a first
connection is established between a first radio module of the
client electronic device and a first radio module of the master
electronic device, to: [0038] send, via a second radio module of
the client electronic device and to a second radio module of the
master electronic device, a message comprising a request to
establish a second connection, the message comprising an identifier
associated with the client electronic device and a first item of
authentication information associated with the connection
establishment request, [0039] receive, via the first radio module
of the client electronic device and coming from the first radio
module of the master electronic device, a message comprising a
request for verification of a request to establish a connection,
the message comprising a second item of authentication information,
[0040] determine whether the first item of authentication
information is equal to the second item of authentication
information and, if such is the case, [0041] send, via the first
radio module of the client electronic device and intended for the
first radio module of the master electronic device, a message
comprising information validating the request to establish the
second connection, and [0042] establish the second connection
between the second radio module and the client electronic device
and the second radio module of the master electronic device.
[0043] The invention also relates to a computer program that can be
stored on a medium and/or downloaded from a communication network,
in order to be read by a processor of a so-called master electronic
device of a wireless communication network. This computer program
comprises instructions for implementing all or some of the steps of
the method for establishing a plurality of connections between a
client electronic device and the master electronic device, when
said program is executed by the processor.
[0044] The invention also relates to an information storage medium
or recording medium comprising such a computer program.
[0045] The invention also relates to a computer program that can be
stored on a medium and/or downloaded from a communication network,
in order to be read by a processor of a so-called client electronic
device of a wireless communication network. This computer program
comprises instructions for implementing all or some of the steps of
the method for establishing a plurality of connections between the
client electronic device and a master electronic device, when said
program is executed by the processor.
[0046] The invention also relates to an information storage medium
or recording medium comprising such a computer program.
[0047] The features of the invention mentioned above, as well as
others, will emerge more clearly from a reading of the following
description of an example embodiment, said description being given
in relation to the accompanying drawings, among which:
[0048] FIG. 1 illustrates schematically a wireless communication
network comprising a plurality of client electronic devices and a
master electronic device, or access point, for example in
accordance with an IEEE 802.11 standard,
[0049] FIG. 2 illustrates schematically a client electronic device
and a master electronic device, or access point, according to one
embodiment of the invention,
[0050] FIG. 3 illustrates schematically the steps of the method for
establishing a plurality of connections between a client electronic
device and a master electronic device of a wireless communication
network, according to one embodiment of the invention,
[0051] FIG. 4 illustrates schematically the functional architecture
of a so-called master electronic device of a wireless communication
network according to one embodiment of the invention,
[0052] FIG. 5 illustrates schematically the hardware architecture
of a so-called master electronic device, or access point, of a
wireless communication network, the master electronic device being
adapted to establish a plurality of radio connections with a client
electronic device, according to one embodiment of the
invention,
[0053] FIG. 6 illustrates schematically the hardware architecture
of a so-called client electronic device of a wireless communication
network, the client electronic device being adapted to establish a
plurality of radio connections with a master electronic device, or
access point, according to one embodiment of the invention.
[0054] The invention enables a master electronic device, or access
point, of a wireless communication network to be able to detect
when a client electronic device is seeking to establish a plurality
of radio connections with it. In particular, information for
identifying--uniquely--a client electronic device is integrated in
frames establishing a radio connection. Thus the access point can
determine the radio connections established corresponding to one
and the same client electronic device.
[0055] The invention makes it possible to verify, when a new radio
connection is established between a client electronic device and an
access point, that the establishment request does indeed come from
the same client electronic device. For this purpose the invention
proposes a check on a request to establish a new radio connection
through a first radio connection previously established. The
invention thus affords protection against identity theft or replay
attacks.
[0056] The invention makes it possible to group together, or bond,
various radio connections established between a client electronic
device and an access point, the grouping being formed at the "data
link" of the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) layer. More
precisely, the grouping, or bonding, is performed at the MAC layer
of a protocol in accordance with IEEE 802.11. The bonding method
according to the invention then allows a distribution of the
network load between the various radio connections to the same
client electronic device. In other words, downlink network traffic,
that is to say data frames sent by the access point to the client
electronic device, can be transmitted using one or other of the
connections in the plurality of radio connections established to
this client electronic device, as explained below. A conventional
bonding may also be established in the uplink direction, that is to
say for data frames sent by the client electronic device to the
access point.
[0057] FIG. 2 illustrates schematically a client electronic device
210 and a master electronic device 200, or access point 200,
according to one embodiment of the invention. The client electronic
device 210 may be one of the client electronic devices D1 102 or D2
103 in the network 100, when said client electronic device
comprises at least two radio modules and implements the method of
the invention. Likewise, the master electronic device 200 may be
the master electronic device 101, when said master electronic
device implements the method of the invention. The client
electronic device 210 here comprises two radio modules R1 211 and
R3 213. By convention, the term R1 and respectively R3 refers to
the frequency band used by the radio module 211 or 213. The client
electronic device 210 may possibly comprise more than two radio
modules, or each radio module may use, not simultaneously, a
plurality of frequency bands. The master electronic device, or
access point, 200 here comprises four radio modules R1 201, R2 202,
R3 203 and R4 204. The convention R1, R2, R3 and R4 is the same as
before, and the radio module 211 of the client electronic device
can therefore potentially establish a radio connection with the
radio module 201 of the master electronic device since they use the
same frequency band R1. The same reasoning applies for the radio
modules 213 and 204, with the use of the frequency band R3. Thus,
as illustrated, two radio connections have been established between
the client electronic device 210 and the master electronic device
200. A first radio connection, on the frequency band R1, between
the radio module 211 of the client electronic device 210 and the
radio module 201 of the master electronic device 200. A second
radio connection, on the frequency band R3, between the radio
module 213 of the client electronic device 210 and the radio module
203 of the master electronic device 200. The method disclosed below
(FIG. 3) ultimately makes it possible to aggregate these two
connections.
[0058] FIG. 3 illustrates schematically the steps of a method 300
for establishing a plurality of connections between a client
electronic device, possibly the electronic device 210 in FIG. 2,
and a master electronic device, possibly the master electronic
device 200 in FIG. 2, in a wireless communication network,
according to one embodiment of the invention.
[0059] In order to be able more easily to isolate the radio
connections corresponding to radio connections to an isolated
client electronic device and those corresponding to radio
connections to one and the same client electronic device, it is
advantageously proposed that the master electronic device, or more
precisely each of the radio modules thereof, uses at least two
wireless networks. In other words, for a wireless network in
accordance with IEEE 802.11, each radio module of the master
electronic device uses two wireless networks, each network being
associated with a different SSID (Service Set Identifier). The two
SSIDs can therefore in principle be used by a client electronic
device for establishing a connection. Advantageously, the second
SSID corresponds to a wireless network that is a duplication of the
wireless network corresponding to the first SSID. Duplication means
that the technical characteristics of each wireless network, except
for the SSID and those discussed below, are identical. In other
words, the master electronic device defines, for each radio module,
that is to say for each physical interface, two so-called virtual
network interfaces, each virtual network interface corresponding to
a different SSID. Advantageously, a first wireless network
corresponding to the first SSID is managed conventionally, whereas
the second wireless network, corresponding to the second SSID, is
managed according to the method described below according to the
invention. This makes it possible for example to distinguish a
first virtual network interface, that is to say a first SSID,
dedicated to the client electronic devices not implementing the
invention or not wishing to establish bonding of radio connections,
and a second virtual network interface, that is to say a second
SSID, dedicated to the client electronic devices using the
radio-connection bonding method that is the object of the
invention.
[0060] According to one embodiment of the invention, the second
SSID is said to be "hidden", that is to say it is not broadcast by
the master electronic device. This second SSID may take a
predetermined form, dependent on the form of the first SSID. Thus,
for example, each radio module of a master electronic device
implementing the invention can broadcast a first SSID named
"NETNAME" intended for the client electronic devices not
implementing the invention and use a second SSID, named
"NETNAME_AG", constructed from the name of the first SSID in a
predetermined fashion (hereby adding the character string "_AG").
Thus the client electronic devices can use the SSID "NETNAME_AG",
predetermined according to the name of the first wireless network
"NETNAME", whereas the SSID "NETNAME_AG" is not broadcast by the
master electronic device. This embodiment corresponds to the
non-broadcasting in a signalling message, referred to as Wi-Fi
beacon frame, of the SSID corresponding to the second wireless
network.
[0061] According to a complementary embodiment, each client
electronic device can send a so-called "probe request" frame to the
master electronic device in order to know the SSIDs that can be
used. In this case, the master electronic device can respond to the
"probe request" frame with a so-called "probe response" frame, said
"probe response" frame comprising the first and second SSIDs.
According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, a client
electronic device implementing the invention sends a "probe
request" frame comprising supplementary information indicating that
the client electronic device is compatible with the method of the
invention. In this case, the master electronic device responds by
means of a "probe response.quadrature. frame comprising the second
SSID. In the contrary case, the master electronic device responds
with a "probe response" frame comprising the first SSID. Thus the
invention can be implemented in a way that is transparent for
client electronic devices comprising only a single radio
module.
[0062] In the end, the client electronic devices implementing the
invention are isolated on the wireless network corresponding to the
second SSID.
[0063] Thus, according to the various embodiments described above,
in a first step 300 each of the radio modules of the master
electronic device comprises a virtual interface corresponding to an
SSID dedicated to the connection of the client electronic devices
implementing the invention. In other words, the master electronic
device, or access point, uses an SSID, hidden or not, for the
connection of the electronic devices wishing to establish a
plurality of radio connections with the access point.
[0064] In a following step 305, the master electronic device, or
access point, receives, via a first radio module of the master
electronic device and coming from a first radio module of a client
electronic device, a message comprising a request to establish a
first connection between the master electronic device and the
client electronic device, the message comprising an identifier
associated with the client electronic device and a first item of
authentication information associated with the
connection-establishment request. This message is a so-called
"association request" message as defined in an IEEE 802.11
protocol, comprising a unique identifier of the client electronic
device and a first item of authentication information associated
with the connection request. According to one embodiment of the
invention, the message may also comprise, in addition to the
identifier of the client electronic device, a bonding identifier,
that is to say an identifier of a grouping, existing or not, of
radio connections. The latter embodiment thus enables one and the
same client electronic device to manage a plurality of radio
connections possibly grouped in various bondings.
[0065] The supplementary information may be included in a so-called
"vendor specific" field, which makes it possible to guarantee
compatibility of a client electronic device implementing the
invention with an access point not implementing the invention.
[0066] The master electronic device receiving the message records
in a memory the information included in the message. For example,
the master electronic device keeps up to date a so-called
"association table" associating the identifier of the client
electronic device, possibly a bonding identifier, an MAC address
associated with a first radio module of the master electronic
device receiving the message and an indication of the establishment
or not of a connection. An association corresponds to a radio
connection established between the master electronic device and the
client electronic device. According to one embodiment, the
association table comprises supplementary information for
identifying a master electronic device. The latter case corresponds
to a client electronic device that establishes a plurality of radio
connections with a plurality of master electronic devices, each
master electronic device being able to exchange information with
the other master electronic devices. This makes it possible to
define a scenario of distributed bonding of the radio connections.
The table is in this case kept up to date either by a specific
master electronic device or in a distributed fashion.
[0067] In a following step 310, the master electronic device
determines whether a second connection is already established
between a second radio module of the master electronic device and a
second radio module of the client electronic device corresponding
to the identifier received. In other words, the master electronic
device checks whether there already exists a radio connection
established between the client electronic device and the master
electronic device.
[0068] In a step 320, if there does not already exist an
established radio connection, the master electronic device sends a
so-called "association response" message in a conventional manner
and then establishes a radio connection with the client electronic
device. The establishment of the radio connection may comprise
subsequent authentication steps, not described here, of the
WPA/WPA2 type ("Wi-Fi Protected Access"). At the end of this step,
a radio connection is established between the client electronic
device and the master electronic device. The electronic device may
listen out for a frame of the "association request" type, that is
to say awaiting a new step 305.
[0069] In a step 325, if there already exists a radio connection
established between the master electronic device and the client
electronic device, the master electronic device sends, via the
second radio module of the master electronic device and to the
second radio module of the client electronic device, a message
comprising a request to verify the request for establishment of the
first connection received, the message comprising the first item of
authentication information received. In other words, the master
electronic device sends to the client electronic device, but
through the radio connection previously established, a verification
message comprising the first item of authentication information
received.
[0070] The client electronic device therefore receives said
verification message. If the client electronic device is indeed the
origin of the request to establish a new radio connection via the
first radio module thereof, then the client electronic device can
verify that the first item of authentication information received
does indeed correspond to the one that it had initially sent in the
message received in the step 305 by the master electronic device.
If the client electronic device is no longer the origin of the
request, the first item of authentication information will not
correspond. For this reason, the first item of authentication
information is chosen by the client electronic device randomly or
pseudorandomly, the first item of authentication information having
to vary over time in order to thwart a replay attack. The first
item of authentication information is advantageously a nonce, that
is to say an arbitrary number intended to be used only once.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the first item of
authentication information is determined randomly for each request
to establish a radio connection. According to one embodiment of the
invention, the first item of authentication information is
determined according to a timestamp, to information related to the
radio module, for example the MAC address thereof, and to the
identifier of the client electronic device. The first item of
authentication information may be a condensing of the previous
information.
[0071] If the client electronic device is the origin of a new
request to establish a connection and the first item of
authentication information corresponds to the one sent by the
client electronic device, then the client electronic device in
return sends to the master electronic device a message comprising
information validating the request. In the contrary case, the
client electronic device does not respond or sends a message
comprising non-validation information.
[0072] According to a complementary embodiment of the invention,
said to be with "mutual authentication", the message comprising
information validating the request sent by the client electronic
device also comprises a second item of authentication information.
This second item of authentication information is advantageously
intended to thwart any attack by identity theft in the case where
an attacker managed to predict an identifier of the bonding before
a first association.
[0073] In a step 330, the master electronic device receives, via
the second radio module of the master electronic device and coming
from the second radio module of the client electronic device, a
message comprising information validating the request to establish
the first connection. If the validation information is positive,
that is to say confirms that the client electronic device is the
origin of the request to establish the new radio connection, then
the master electronic device passes to the step 340. In the
contrary case, or in the absence of a response within a
predetermined time, the master electronic device passes to the step
335.
[0074] The step 335 corresponds to the case where the master
electronic device does not receive a response or a response
indicating that the client electronic device is not the origin of
the request to establish the new radio connection. In this case,
the request to establish the new radio connection is rejected, for
example via a message of the "association response" type indicating
refusal of the radio connection. The electronic device can then
once again listen out for a frame of the "association request"
type, that is to say awaiting a new step 305.
[0075] Step 340 corresponds to the case where the client electronic
device, via a previously established connection, has confirmed that
it was indeed the origin of the request to establish a new radio
connection. The master electronic device can therefore continue the
method for establishing a radio connection between the first radio
module of the client electronic device and the first radio module
of the master electronic device. Thus a so-called "association
response" frame is sent by the master electronic device to the
client electronic device by the first radio module. If during the
step 325, and in accordance with the embodiment of the invention
known as "mutual authentication", the electronic device
incorporated in the validation message a second item of
authentication information, then the master electronic device
incorporates this same second item of authentication information in
the so-called "association response" frame. Thus, according to this
complementary so-called "mutual authentication" embodiment, the
client device receiving the so-called "association response" frame
comprising the second item of authentication information can verify
that the second item of authentication information received does
indeed correspond to the one sent during the step 325. According to
this embodiment, in the event of non-correspondence, or in the
absence of the second item of authentication information, the
client electronic device can refuse establishment of the connection
with the master electronic device. The client electronic device can
send a message requesting cancellation of the association to the
master electronic device.
[0076] The association table is updated by the master electronic
device with the information corresponding to this new radio
connection.
[0077] In a step 345, the master electronic device can bond the
various radio connections to one and the same client electronic
device. This bonding is described for example in FIG. 4.
[0078] FIG. 4 illustrates schematically the functional architecture
of a so-called master electronic device 400 of a wireless
communication network according to one embodiment of the invention.
The master electronic device 400 may be the master electronic
device 200 described in FIG. 2 or the one implementing the method
described in FIG. 3.
[0079] The master electronic device 400 comprises here three radio
modules, the first using for example a frequency band R1, the
second radio module using for example a frequency band R2 and the
third radio module using for example a frequency band R3. The first
radio module comprises a virtual interface 401, corresponding to a
conventional wireless network (for example the one corresponding to
the first SSID described in FIG. 3). The virtual interface 401
corresponds for example to the broadcasting of the SSID called
"SSID1". The first radio module also comprises a virtual network
interface 401A, possibly "hidden", corresponding for example to the
broadcasting of the SSID called "SSID1_A". An MAC address is
associated with each virtual interface.
[0080] Each interface 401, 402 and 403 is directly connected to a
switching module 420 ("switch" or "bridge"). The switching module
420 is possibly connected to a routing module 430. Interfaces, not
shown in FIG. 4, may be connected to the switching module 420, for
example interfaces of the "Ethernet" or xDSL ("xDigital subscriber
line") type enabling the master electronic device to be connected
to a local area network and/or to the internet.
[0081] The interfaces 401A, 402A and 403A are bonded through a
virtual so-called bonding interface 410, the bonding interface
being associated itself with a so-called bonding MAC address. Thus
all the multiple radio connections established by client electronic
devices are attached to the interfaces 401A, 402A and 403A, and are
in the end attached to the virtual bonding interface 410.
[0082] The conventional bonding methods, for example, are known in
the field of Ethernet interface bonding and cannot be directly used
in the present case. This is because a client electronic device may
have established radio connections with the interface 401A and the
interface 402A, but not necessarily with the interface 403A.
However, the conventional methods for sending a frame to the client
electronic device could choose an interface at random between the
interfaces 401A, 402A and 403A. The frames sent through the
interface 403A would therefore be lost.
[0083] In order to overcome these drawbacks, the master electronic
device records in a memory a so-called association table. This
table is updated when the method described in FIG. 3 is executed,
for example during the step 340. This association table comprises,
for each connection of the client electronic device: [0084] an
identifier associated with the connection, [0085] an identifier of
the client electronic device with which the connection is
established, [0086] possibly, if this option is used by the client
electronic device, a bonding identifier, [0087] an identifier of
the virtual radio interface relating to this connection (for
example one of the interfaces 401A, 402A, 403A in FIG. 4).
[0088] It should be noted that, in parallel, each client electronic
device, when a bonding of a plurality of radio connections is in
place, comprises: [0089] for each radio connection established, an
interface with which an MAC address is associated, [0090] a virtual
so-called bonding interface, grouping together the previous
interfaces, the virtual bonding interface being associated with a
so-called bonding MAC address, [0091] possibly, if the client
electronic device uses this option, a bonding identifier, the
client electronic device then being able to manage a plurality of
bondings in parallel, [0092] the master electronic device also
records in a memory a so-called bonding table, updated by the
master electronic device at each reception of a (learning) data
frame, and comprising, for each identifier of a client electronic
device or, if the bonding information option is used, for each pair
consisting of identifier of a client electronic device and bonding
information, a list of MAC addresses populated by learning and
accessible through the bonding interfaces. These entries are of the
so-called "lower layer" type, [0093] an entry of the so-called
"upper layer" type comprising a list of MAC addresses also
populated by learning and accessible through the switching function
(non-bonding interfaces).
[0094] In other words, from the point of view of the bonding module
410 in FIG. 4, the entries in the bonding table corresponding to
electronic devices the frames of which are received via one of the
interfaces 401A, 402A or 403A are said to be "lower layer" entries.
Likewise, the entries in the bonding table corresponding to
electronic devices the frames of which are received via the routing
module 430 and/or the interfaces 401, 402 or 403, are said to be
"upper layer" entries.
[0095] A so-called "learning" method, making it possible to
populate, that is to say to fill in, the so-called bonding table is
described below. This method, executed by the master electronic
device, also allows the management of any electronic devices
connected to the client electronic device. This is particularly
advantageous for a client electronic device of the "Wi-Fi repeater"
type.
[0096] Two processes are defined, a first so-called "reception"
process, and a second so-called "transmission" process.
[0097] The first so-called "reception" process is implemented:
[0098] at the time of reception by the master electronic device of
a frame intended for a virtual so-called bonding interface, for
example the interface 410, the frame having been received via one
of the interfaces able to be potentially bonded of the master
electronic device (corresponding to the so-called "lower layer"
entries); the so-called "lower layer" interfaces of a master
electronic device conventionally correspond to Wi-Fi interfaces.
[0099] at the time of the reception of a frame intended for a
virtual so-called bonding interface, the frame having been received
via an upper layer.
[0100] The second so-called "transmission" process is implemented
at the time of transmission of a frame from a virtual so-called
bonding interface, whether it be intended for a so-called "lower
layer" or "upper layer" entry, the transmissions to the entries of
the "lower layer" and "upper layer" type being able to be the
subject of a distinct dedicated sub-process.
[0101] The so-called association table and the so-called bonding
table are synchronised. This is because, when an entry is added in
the so-called association table, a corresponding entry of the
"lower layer" type is created in the bonding table, containing the
identifiers of the client electronic device and possibly, if this
option is used by the client electronic device, the bonding
identifier coming from the corresponding entry in the association
table, the list of MAC addresses associated with this entry being
initially empty. Likewise, if an entry is deleted from the
association table, the corresponding entry of the "lower layer"
type is also deleted in the so-called bonding table, as well as the
associated list of MAC addresses. If an identifier of an electronic
device or of a bonding is modified in the association table, then
the same modification is made in the so-called bonding table.
[0102] A method for receiving a frame according to one embodiment
of the invention is described below, this method may be implemented
by the bonding module 410.
[0103] Should the frame received come from a so-called "lower
layer" entry, then: [0104] (a) if the frame is received via a
connection, or Wi-Fi association, of the bonding type, then the
frame is redirected to the associated virtual network interface,
[0105] (b) if the frame is received via a virtual network
interface, then the identifier of the sending client electronic
device and if applicable a bonding identifier are added to this
frame, and then the modified frame is sent to the virtual so-called
bonding interface 410, [0106] (c) if the frame, for example of
so-called level 2, is received via the virtual so-called bonding
interface 410, then: [0107] the bonding table is updated: [0108]
the entry of the "lower layer" type corresponding to the identifier
of the client electronic device is sought in the table and, if not
already present, the MAC address that is the source of the frame is
added to the list associated with the entry, and [0109] the MAC
address that is the source of the frame is sought in the table and,
if it is present in another list associated with an entry other
than the previous entry, it is then deleted from the other list,
[0110] if the frame is of the "unicast" type, then: [0111] if an
entry is sought in the table corresponding to the MAC address that
is the destination of the frame, [0112] if the entry found is of
the "upper layer" type, then the frame is sent to the process of
sending to a so-called upper layer electronic device, [0113] if the
entry found is of the lower layer type, then the frame is sent to
the process of sending to a so-called lower layer electronic
device, [0114] if no entry is identified, then the frame is treated
as being of the multicast or broadcast type, as explained below,
[0115] if the frame is of the multicast or broadcast type, then:
[0116] the frame is sent to the process of sending to the "lower
layer" entries, [0117] if the frame does not comprise any
information of the "upper layer" type, then the frame is
duplicated, the duplicated frame being sent to the process of
transmission to the "upper layer" entries.
[0118] Should the frame received come from a so-called "upper
layer" entry, and if the frame is received on the virtual so-called
bonding interface 410, then: [0119] the frame is enhanced with
information of the "upper layer" type making it possible to
distinguish this frame from a frame coming from a "lower layer"
entry, [0120] the bonding table is updated: [0121] by adding the
source MAC address of the frame in the list of MAC addresses
associated with the corresponding entry (of the "upper layer"
type), [0122] by seeking the source MAC address of the frame in the
other entries in the table, and, if present, then eliminating it in
the list of MAC addresses associated with the other entries; [0123]
the remainder of the process is identical to the case of a frame
coming from a so-called "lower layer" electronic address: the frame
is treated as in the previous case as from case (c) "if the frame,
for example of so-called level 2, is received via the virtual
so-called bonding interface 410".
[0124] A method for sending a frame according to one embodiment of
the invention is described below, this method can be implemented by
the bonding module 410.
[0125] In the case of the sending of a frame intended for an MAC
address of an electronic device corresponding to an entry of the
"lower layer" type: [0126] for a so-called level 2 frame of the
"unicast" type: [0127] seeking an entry in the bonding table
corresponding to the destination MAC address of the frame and, if
an entry is found: [0128] determining all the associations (or
connections) corresponding to the bonding found, and then
transmitting this information found, as well as the frame to be
transmitted, to a standard bonding function corresponding to the
prior art so that the latter determines the association to be used
for sending the frame, [0129] the identifier of the association to
be used for sending the frame is added to this frame, [0130] the
frame thus modified is next sent to the virtual network interface
corresponding to the association to be used for sending it, [0131]
if no entry is found, then the frame is treated as a "multicast or
broadcast" frame (cf. below), [0132] for a so-called level 2 frame
of the "multicast or broadcast" type: [0133] for each existing
bonding, with the exception of any bonding from which the frame
comes: [0134] duplicating the frame to be sent in order to repeat
the steps below for each existing bonding, [0135] seeking all the
associations (or connections) associated with the bonding and then
transmitting this information found, as well as the frame to be
sent, to a standard bonding function corresponding to the prior art
so that the latter determines the association to be used for
sending the frame, [0136] the identifier of the association to be
used for sending the frame is added to this frame, and [0137] the
frame thus modified is next sent to the virtual network interface
corresponding to the association to be used for sending it.
[0138] If one or more virtual network interfaces receive a frame
coming from the virtual so-called bonding interface 410, then this
frame is sent solely on the association (or connection) designated
by the identifier present in the frame of the association to be
used.
[0139] In the case of the sending of a frame to an MAC address of
an electronic device corresponding to an entry of the "upper layer"
type: [0140] if the frame comprises information of the "upper
layer" type, it is ignored, [0141] otherwise the frame is sent to
the upper layer, that is to say for example to the routing module
430.
[0142] FIG. 5 illustrates schematically the hardware architecture
of a so-called master electronic device 500, or access point, of a
wireless communication network, the master electronic device 500
being adapted to establish a plurality of radio connections with a
client electronic device, according to one embodiment of the
invention. The master electronic device 500 is for example the
master electronic device 200 in FIG. 2.
[0143] The master electronic device 500 is adapted to implement the
method, for a wireless communication network using a plurality of
frequency bands and comprising at least one so-called client
electronic device, each client electronic device comprising at
least two radio modules, each radio module being adapted to use a
frequency band in the plurality of frequency bands, each radio
module being adapted to use a frequency band in the plurality of
frequency bands, the method allowing the establishment of a
plurality of connections between a client electronic device and the
master electronic device. The method is executed by the master
electronic device and comprising the steps of: [0144] receiving,
via a first radio module of the master electronic device and coming
from a first radio module of a client electronic device, a message
comprising a request to establish a first connection between the
master electronic device and the client electronic device, the
message comprising an identifier associated with the client
electronic device and authentication information associated with
the request to establish a connection, [0145] determining whether a
second connection is already established between a second radio
module of the master electronic device and a second radio module of
the client electronic device corresponding to the identifier
received, and, if such is the case, then: [0146] sending, via the
second radio module of the master electronic device and intended
for the second radio module of the client electronic device, a
message comprising a request to verify the request to establish the
first connection received, the message comprising the first item of
authentication information received, [0147] receiving, via the
second radio module of the master electronic device and coming from
the second radio module of the client electronic device, a message
comprising information validating the request to establish the
first connection, and [0148] establishing the first connection
between the first radio module of the client electronic device and
the first radio module of the master electronic device.
[0149] Thus the master electronic device 500 comprises, connected
by a communication bus: a processor CPU (central processing unit)
501; a memory MEM 502 of the RAM type (random access memory) and/or
ROM type (read only memory), a network module NET 503, a storage
module STK 504 of the internal storage type and possibly a
plurality of radio modules 305 to 30N possibly using a plurality of
frequency bands. The storage module STCK 504 may be of the hard
disk type HDD (hard disk drive) or SSD (solid-state drive), or of
the external storage medium reader type, such as an SD (Secure
Digital) card reader. The processor CPU 501 can record data, or
information, in the memory MEM 502 or in the storage module STCK
504. The processor CPU 501 can read data recorded in the memory MEM
502 or in the storage module STCK 504. These data may correspond to
configuration parameters, instructions, to the association table or
to the bonding table previously described. The network module NET
503 allows connection of the master electronic device 500 to a
local area network and/or the internet. Each radio module 505 to
50N enables the master electronic device 500 to send, and
respectively to receive, messages or frames intended for and
respectively coming from one or more client electronic devices,
said client electronic devices having established a radio
connection with said radio module 505 to 50N.
[0150] The processor CPU 501 is capable of executing instructions
loaded in the memory MEM 502, for example from the storage module
STCK 504 or via the network module NET 503. When the master
electronic device 500 is powered up, the processor CPU 501 is
capable of reading instructions from the memory MEM 502 and
executing them. These instructions form a computer program causing
the implementation, by the processor CPU 501, of all or some of the
methods and steps described above, particularly the method
described in FIG. 2. Thus all or some of the methods and steps
described above can be implemented in software form by the
execution of a set of instructions by a programmable machine, such
as a DSP (digital signal processor) or a microcontroller. All or
some of the methods and steps described here may also be
implemented in hardware form by a machine or a dedicated component,
such as an FPGA (field-programmable gate array) or an ASIC
(application-specific integrated circuit). The functions of the
master electronic device 500 can be integrated in an access point
of a wireless network in accordance with an IEEE 802.11 standard by
updating software, that is to say by updating the microprogram
("firmware") of the master electronic device 500.
[0151] FIG. 6 illustrates schematically the hardware architecture
of a so-called client electronic device 600 of a wireless
communication network, the client electronic device 600 being
adapted to establish a plurality of radio connections with a master
electronic device, or access point, according to one embodiment of
the invention. The client electronic device 600 is for example the
client electronic device 210 in FIG. 2.
[0152] The client electronic device 600 is adapted to implement a
method, for a wireless communication network using a plurality of
frequency bands and comprising at least the so-called client
electronic device and a so-called master electronic device, the
master electronic device comprising at least two radio modules,
each radio module being adapted to use a frequency band in the
plurality of frequency bands, the so-called master electronic
device being for example the one described in FIG. 4 or 5, the
method allowing the establishment of a plurality of connections
between the client electronic device and the master electronic
device. The method is executed by the client electronic device, a
first connection being established between a first radio module of
the client electronic device and a first radio module of the master
electronic device, the method comprising the steps of: [0153]
sending, via a second radio module of the client electronic device
and to a second radio module of the master electronic device, a
message comprising a request to establish a second connection, the
message comprising an identifier associated with the client
electronic device and a first item of authentication information
associated with the connection establishment request, [0154]
receiving, via the first radio module of the client electronic
device and coming from the first radio module of the master
electronic device, a message comprising a request for verification
of a request to establish a connection, the message comprising a
second item of authentication information, [0155] determining
whether the first item of authentication information is equal to
the second item of authentication information and, if such is the
case, [0156] sending, via the first radio module of the client
electronic device and intended for the first radio module of the
master electronic device, a message comprising information
validating the request to establish the second connection, and
[0157] establishing the second connection between the second radio
module and the client electronic device and the second radio module
of the master electronic device.
[0158] Thus the client electronic device 600 comprises, connected
by a communication bus: a processor or CPU (central processing
unit) 601; a memory MEM 602 of the RAM type (random access memory)
and/or ROM type (read only memory), a storage module STCK 603 of
the internal storage type and possibly a plurality of radio modules
604 to 60N using possibly a plurality of frequency bands. The
storage module STCK 603 may be of the hard disk type HDD (hard disk
drive) or SSD (solid-state drive), or of the external storage
medium reader type, such as an SD (Secure Digital) card reader. The
processor CPU 601 can record data, or information, in the memory
MEM 602 or in the storage module STCK 603. The processor CPU 601
can read data recorded in the memory MEM 602 or in the storage
module STCK 603. These data may correspond to configuration
parameters or instructions. Each radio module 604 to 60N enables
the client electronic device 600 to send, and respectively to
receive, messages or frames intended for, and respectively coming
from one or more master electronic devices, said master electronic
devices having established a radio connection with said radio
module 604 to 60N.
[0159] The processor CPU 601 is capable of executing instructions
loaded in the memory MEM 602, for example from the storage module
STCK 603. When the client electronic device 600 is powered up, the
processor CPU 601 is capable of reading instructions from the
memory MEM 602 and executing them. These instructions form a
computer program causing the implementation, by the processor CPU
601, of all or some of the methods and steps described above,
particularly the method described in FIG. 2. Thus all or some of
the methods and steps described above can be implemented in
software form by the execution of a set of instructions by a
programmable machine, such as a DSP (digital signal processor) or a
microcontroller. All or some of the methods and steps described
here can also be implemented in hardware form by a machine or a
dedicated component, such as an FPGA (field-programmable gate
array) or an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit). The
functions of the client electronic device 600 can be integrated in
a client device, for example a smartphone, of a wireless network in
accordance with an IEEE 802.11 standard by updating software, that
is to say for example by updating the microprogram (firmware) of
the client electronic device 600.
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